Charlotte, N.C. — Three Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers have resigned during an internal probe of alleged racist group texts, Police Chief Estella Patterson said at a Thursday news conference.
Patterson called the allegations serious and deeply troubling and said she wants the remaining three officers tied to the thread removed from the force. The city’s Civil Service Board reviews evidence and holds the final say on firing sworn members who stay on the roster.
The six officers have not been publicly named. Patterson said the department audited body-worn video, traffic stops and arrest records for outside complaints and has asked federal partners to weigh possible civil rights issues. So far she said that audit has not turned up matching external complaints.
The messages surfaced while a separate Flock camera misuse case involving a former CMPD officer was under review by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, according to reporting that tracked the phone download. Community leaders, including the local NAACP president, have pressed for firings and wider reforms.
Patterson said the department will seek to revoke North Carolina law enforcement certifications for the officers who quit so they cannot simply pin on a badge elsewhere in the state. She also flagged ethics training requirements and said she is watching for any sign the behavior is broader than one chat.
Charlotte residents following the case will next hear from the Civil Service Board if termination cases move forward for the officers who remain. The chief said most employees do solid work and that the focus stays on holding anyone who breaks policy to account.
Section: More Charlotte NC crime news
Filed under: Charlotte NC Public Safety News
